Blockchain and the trust issue

1:40pm: How it works – is blockchain the right technology choice for the music industry?
Providing a clear overview of the technicalities of the blockchain, the role of
cryptocurrency and smart contracts within the system of distributed ledgers.
Does this technology make sense for the music industry? Why or why not?Neha Narula, Director of Research at the Digital Currency Initiative, MIT

1:50pm: Transparency and payment flows in the music industry
Blockchain technology delivers immediate transparency and a new payment model for the new generation of users, but what does it mean for the industry legacy data?
What exactly would the blockchain technology solve in the music industry?
And what would it require? Jesse Feister, Co-founder & head of strategy, Songspace

2:00pm: The new distributors
Will blockchain technology help artists monetise and control their music better? Will it help them ensure and validate platform payments? What are the requirements from the artists and how does collective distribution change the existing system and competitive landscape? Tim Luckow, Co-founder, Stem

2:10pm: The Revelator use-case
How are artists, managers and labels already using blockchain technology via the Revelator user-interface, and what difference does it make on the bottom-line and for marketing and promotional purposes?Bruno Guez, Founder & CEO, Revelator

2:20pm: The business case for blockchain adoption by the music industry
Aspirations and fears of the industry acting as drivers and barriers to adoption of blockchain technology. Who benefits from blockchain adoption? Where’s the money really being made?Jesse Grushack, Product & Business, ConsenSys

2:30pm: Panel - Does blockchain make sense to adopt for the music industry?
Are the current on-going law-suits acting as the catalyst for change?
Does this technology make sense for the music industry? Why or why not?Moderator:Deborah Newman, Founder, MusicstratPanelists:Jesse Feister, Co-founder & head of strategy, SongspaceJesse Grushack, Product & Business, ConsenSys Tim Luckow, Co-founder, Stem Neha Narula, Director of Research at the Digital Currency Initiative, MIT

3:10pm: Coffee and networking break

3:30pm: A Shared Digital Architecture
Technology innovation and shifting consumer behavior is acting as catalyst for change in the music business, with new technologies like AR, VR, weareables and IOT creating new opportunities. Is the current music business framework working and able to take full advantage of these emerging platforms? What changes need to be made in order to guarantee a sustainable business environment for a commercial and viable music industry? Panos Panay, Founding Managing Director, Berklee ICE

3:40pm: The publisher’s perspective and opportunity
“There are few that fully understand the metadata challenges on the publishing side, fewer that understand modern technology stacks within that, and just a handful of people who can really grasp how blockchain will revolutionize this.” - Joe Conyers.
Moving from an existing legacy infrastructure to the blockchain opportunity – is it feasible, realistic and scalable? How will a distributed system deliver better return-on-investment than a decentralized one?Joe Conyers, VP Technology of Downtown Music Publishing and GM, VP of Songtrust

3.50pm: The recording industry perspective
Being a relatively new technology solution, blockchain focuses forward on resolving future distribution, revenues and disputes. Is retro-fitting past catalogue, data and legacy systems a realistic prospect? What are the hopes for and concerns about block chain type solutions for the music industry's myriad challenges?David Hughes, SVP Technology, RIAA

4.00pm: The blockchain impact on collecting societies
How would the evolution of blockchain technology affect collection societies who currently serve as trusted intermediaries between users of digital music and rightsholders? Is there an incentive for rights management organizations to share their data with blockchain developers?Michael Simon, President, Rumblefish

4:10pm: Creating industry standards – competing blockchain platforms
Which blockchain technology platform is best suited for the music industry? Does it matter? Who is part of setting the industry standards? Should blockchain be part of the new proposed rights infrastructure by Spotify? And how do the limitations of blockchain technology impact its use by the music eco-system?
What is the role of the digital music service providers, as they are not the rights holders, what important questions will be raised over authority, accuracy and inclusion?Jesse Walden, Co-founder, Mine and Mediachain

4:20pm: The politics of trustand truth
Competition, trust, and consensus – is the music industry ready for transparency, truth, organization and clean data? What will spur on the change, a disruptive startup, the digital music services, industry consensus or open system designs with active developer ecosystems working on media applications.Moderator:Vickie Nauman, Founder and Owner, CrossBorderWorks, & Board Member, Future of Music CoalitionPanelists:Joe Conyers, VP Technology of Downtown Music Publishing and GM, VP of Songtrust David Hughes, SVP Technology, RIAAPanos Panay, Founding Managing Director, Berklee ICE Michael Simon, President, RumblefishJesse Walden, Co-founder, Mine and Mediachain